CHICAGO — Nearly a year after steep fare hikes took effect and a few weeks before additional ones are imposed, Metra leaders approved giving 299 employees raises from minimal amounts up to 33 percent, saying the move was long overdue. Members of Metra's board of directors said the raises for nonunion employees were justified, explaining that workers' salaries had been frozen since 2009 at the time of the recession. A 2 percent cost of living increase was instituted Jan. 1, however.